Animated action toy



Dec. 19, 1967 A. E.'GOLDFARB ANIMATED ACTION TOY Filed Nov. 24, 1964INVENTOR.

,ipozm/ i United States Patent 3,358,998 ANIMATED ACTION TOY Adolph E.Goldfarb, 7427 Varna St., North Hollywood, Calif. 91605 Filed Nov. 24,1964, Ser. No. 413,555 15 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) This invention relates toan animatable action toy and more particularly to such a toyincorporating an object which, upon actuation of an appropriate releasemechanism, is ejected from the toy at an unpredictable time whereupon auser of the toy may attempt to catch the object.

Many games are available for children which are not only amusing, butalso develop a childs coordination and agility.

The game of the present invention is not only amusing to children of allages, but also develops their coordination and agility in a mannersomewhat different from that employed in prior art devices.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea new and useful animatable action toy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toy of thattype described which can be played by one or more individuals.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy whichforms the basis of a highly amusing game which not only amuses children,but also develops their coordination and agility.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a newand useful game of the type described wherein points may be scored uponthe happening of a chance event, providing the child acts with skill andagility after the happening of the event.

According to the present invention, a game is provided wherein a firsttower is mounted on a base plate. A coil spring has one end attached tothe base plate inside the first tower and the other end of the coilspring has a platform attached to it. The platform can be depressedagainst the pressure of the spring and locked in a depressed position.After which the players of the game can place animated objects, such assimulated butterflies or the like, on top of the platform in the firsttower.

The mechanism which maintains the platform in a depressed positionincludes a triggering device having a lever arm extending into apassageway provided in a second tower.

The second tower has an upper passageway adapted to receive a ball ormarble with close tolerance. The upper passageway communicates with apair of lower passageways which are separated by a central divider. Aplayer of the game may drop a marble or ball into the second tower. Asthe ball drops down the upper passageway, it strikes the divider androlls into one of the lower passageways unobserved by the player. Shouldthe ball roll into a first of the lower passageways the ball will bereturned to the player without a score.

On the other hand, should the ball roll from the central divider intothe other lower passageway, it will strike the lever arm releasing thetriggering mechanism so that the platform flies upwardly in the firsttower. This causes the butterfly which is stored in the tower to fly outthe top thereof. The player is provided with a butterfly net andattempts to catch the butterfly flying out of the tower. Should theplayer succeed in catching the butterfly in the net, the player isentitled to the number of points indicated on the butterfly by asuitable indicia placed thereon. The score indicating indicia on thebutterflies are not visible to the players of the game so that theynever know how many points they can score on a given occasion.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to thelike elements in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a toy of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the toy ofFIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a holder means and the animated gamepieces used in playing a game with the toy shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring again to the drawing, an animatable toy constituting apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated10, includes a base plate 12 upon which a pair of open-topped towers 14and 16 are mounted. A catapult spring 18 is disposed within the tower 14and has a first end 20 secured to the base plate 12 by a clip 22 (FIGURE2). The other end 24 of spring 20 is secured by a clip 26 to a catapultplatform 28 which is slidably mounted within the tower 14. The platform28 may be lowered into the tower 14 against the pressure exerted byspring 20 by a suitable lever 30 which is attached to the platform by aweldment 31 and which is disposed within a vertical slot 32 provided inthe encompassing sidewall 34 of tower 14.

The platform 28 includes a depending skirt portion 36 in which anelongated aperture 38 is provided. The aperture 38 is brought intoalignment with a like aperture 40 provided in the sidewall 34 near itslower end 42. When the apertures 38 and 40 are in alignment, theplatform 28 can be latched in its depressed position by a latchingmechanism 44 which is pivotally mounted on the base plate 12 by abracket 46 and a pivot pin 48. The latching mechanism of 44 includes afirst leg 50 which is pinned to the bracket 46 by pin 48 and a secondleg 52 which extends through apertures 40 and 38 into engagement withplatform 28 when the mechanism 44 is pivoted in a counter clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The latch mechanism 44 is biased in acounter clockwise direction by a suitable spring 54 which has one endconnected to the leg 52 and its other end connected to the tower 14. Thelatch mechanism 44 also includes a third leg 56 which extends through aslot 58 provided in the rear sidewall 17 of tower 16. The slot 58permits the leg 56 to swing in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFIGURE 2, while the end 60 thereof remains disposed within a first lowerchamber 62 provided in the bottom portion of the tower 16. A secondlower chamber 64 is also provided in the lower portion of the tower 16and the chambers 62 and 64 are separated by a vertical partition 66having a V-shaped, upper end portion 68.

The tower 16 includes a hollow upper portion 70 having an encompassingsidewall 72 defining a passageway 73 through which a spherical ball ormarble 74 is free to pass with close tolerance. When the ball 74 reachesthe lower end 76 of passageway 73, the ball 74 strikes the V- shapedportion 68 which directs the ball into either lower chamber 62 or lowerchamber 64 on a chance basis. That is, assuming that the base plate 12is perfectly level, the partition 66, the passageway 73 and the entranceto the chambers 62 and 64 are arranged in such a manner that there isapproximately a 50-50 chance that the ball 74 will roll into aparticular chamber 62 or 64.

Upon entering the chamber 64, the ball rolls out of the tower 16 throughan opening 78 provided in the front sidewall 80 of the tower 16. Shouldthe ball 74 enter chamber 62, the ball engages the end 60 of lever 56overcoming the tension of spring 54 and causing the latching mechanismto swing in a clockwise direction so that the leg 52 becomes disengagedfrom the platform 28. The compression spring 20 then catapults theplatform 28 upwardly in the tower 14.

The device can be used for the amusement of children whilesimultaneously developing their coordination and agility by placing asuitable object, such as an animated, simulated butterfly 82 on theplatform 28 with the wings 82a of the butterfly 82 slideably engaged inslots 34a provided in sidewall 34. The child may then be provided with asuitable catching device, such as a butterfly net 84 in which to catchthe butterfly 82 when it flies out the open top 85 of the tower 14 uponrelease of the platform 28. A plurality of butterflies 82 may be store-don a suitable holding device 86 which is preferably placed in a playingarea in such a manner that children playing the game cannot see certainindicia 88 provided on each butterfly 82. The indicia 88 may be in theform of numerals designating the amount of points to be scored by achild catcln'ng a butterfly 82 in the net 84. The butterflies 82 may beselected from the holding device 86 at random and in such a manner thatthe child whose turn it is will not know the amount of points to bescored by catching a butterfly when it flies out of the tower 14. Thetower 14 is of sutficient height and is preferably made of a suitableopaque material, such as metal or colored plastic, so that the playersof the game cannot see the indicia 88 on a butterfly 82 when it is inposition on platform 28 at the lower end 42 of tower 14.

The excitement of the game may be enhanced by modifying the partition 66shown in FIGURE 1 to the form thereof shown in FIGURE 3 wherein apartition 66a may be set into motion by a suitable actuating lever 6619before the ball 74 is dropped into the tower 16. As the partition 66aswings to and fro it will be impossible for a child whose turn it is topredict whether the marble 74 will pass into the lower chamber 62 or thelower chamber 64. Thus, the child must have the butterfly net 84 at handand have a good grip on its handle 90 when he drops the marble 74 intotower 16 in anticipation that a butterfly 82 might fly out of the tower14. When ball 74 passes into chamber 62 to trip the latch mechanism 44,the ball is returned to the player through an opening 79 providedtherein. The tower 16 is provided with sloping top walls 92 which limitthe openings into thelower chambers 62 and 64 in such a manner that theball 74 passes therethrough with close tolerance when the partitions 66and 66a are exactly centered between chambers 62 and 64.

While the device 10 may form the basis of many games, one game may beplayed as follows:

The game can be played by one or more children. When more than one childplays a game with the device 10, each child will take a turn at whichtime the child takes the net 84 in one hand and the marble 74 in anotherhand. The platform 28 may then be lowered by another child depressingthe lever 30 until the latch mechanism 44 engages the skirt 36 lockingthe platform in its depressed position. The other child may then selecta butterfly 82 at random from holding device 86 and drop the butterfly82 into the tower 14 so that it comes to rest on the platform 28. Thechild holding the marble 74 then drops it into the tower 16 whileobserving the tower 14 with the net 84 in position to catch thebutterfly 82 in case it flies cut of the tower 14. Should the marble 74be directed by the partition 68 or the partition 66a into the lowerchamber 62, the latching mechanism 44 will be released causing thebutterfly 82 to fly out of the tower 14 whereupon the child holding thenet 84 attempts to catch the butterfly.

4 Should the child succeed, he scores the number of points shown on thebutterfly.

On the other hand the indicia 88 on the butterflies 82 can take the formof suitable colors and the object of the game would be to collect all ofthe butterflies of one particular color. The child having the mostbutterflies of the same color at the end of a predetermined number ofturns would then be declared the winner.

Although the particular toy and method of using same herein shown anddescribed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthatit is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of theinvention and that no limitations are intended to the details ofconstruction, design or method steps herein shown and described otherthan as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a toy game device, comprising:

catapult means for hiding a game piece from view and ejecting the gamepiece into the air when said catapult device is released;

a game piece mounted on said catapult device for ejection thereby;

catching means for catching a game piece ejected by said catapult means;

trigger means connected to said catapult device for releasing it; and

chance means for releasing said trigger.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for releasing saidtrigger includes a spherical object adapted to contact said triggermeans on a chance basis when released.

3. A toy game device, comprising:

a first tower means adapted to conceal a game piece from the view of theusers of the device;

catapult means mounted in said first tower means for catapulting saidgame piece therefrom; second tower means mounted adjacent said firsttower means, said second tower means including lower chambers separatedby a partition means, said second tower means also including an upperpassageway communicating with said lower chambers;

trigger means mounted between said first and second tower means, saidtrigger means having a first leg extendable into said first tower meansto retain said catapult means in a loaded condition, said trigger meansincluding a second leg extending into one of said lower chambers;

trigger release means adapted to pass through said upper passagewaymeans with close tolerance and strike said partition which directs saidrelease means into one of said lower chambers on the basis of chance,said second leg extending into said one lower chamber in the path oftravel of said release means as it is directed into said one chamber bysaid partition; and

catching means positionable to catch said game piece upon its ejectionfrom said first tower means by said catapult means when said releasemeans engages said second leg in said one lower chamber.

4. A toy game device as defined in claim 3 wherein said game piececomprises an animated figure having scoring indicia provided thereon.

5. A toy game device as defined in claim 3 wherein said release meanscomprises a marble adapted to be dropped into said second tower means bya user of said device.

6. A toy game device as defined in claim 3 wherein said game piececomprises a simulated butterfly.

7. A toy game device as defined in claim 6 wherein said catching meanscomprises a butterfly net.

8. A toy game device as defined in claim 7 including a plurality ofsimulated butterflies each having a different scoring indicia providedthereon.

9. A toy game device as defined in claim 8 including holder means forconcealing said indicia when said butterflies are in position thereon.

10. A toy game device as defined in claim 3 wherein said partition isswingable.

11. A toy game device, comprising:

a base plate;

a first tower mounted on said base plate, said first tower including anencompassing upstanding sidewall adapted to conceal a game piece fromthe view of a user of the game device;

a second tower mounted on said base plate adjacent said first tower,said second tower including an upper passageway defined by an upstandingencompassing sidewall, said second tower also including a pair of lowerchambers, and a partition separating said lower chambers, said partitionincluding a V-shaped upper end portion at the bottom of said upperpassageway in the path of travel of an object dropping therethrough;

a coil spring mounted in said first tower, said spring having a firstend connected to said base plate and a second end;

a platform slidably mounted in said first tower, said platform beingconnected to said second end of the said coil spring, said platformincluding a depending skirt having an elongated aperture providedtherein, said aperture in said skirt being alignable with an elongatedaperture provided in said encompassing sidewall of said first tower;

a. latching mechanism pivotally mounted on said base plate between saidtowers, said latching mechanism including a first leg extendable throughsaid apertures in said sidewall of said first tower and in saiddepending skirt when said apertures are in alignment to engage saidskirt and retain said platform in a depressed position within saidtower, thereby compressing said coil spring, said latching mechanismincluding a second leg extending into one of said chambers in the pathof travel of an object being directed into said one chamber by saidpartition;

a weight object adapted to be dropped into said second tower throughsaid passageway, said object being shaped to travel through saidpassageway with close tolerance and engage said V-shaped portion of saidpartition, whereby said object is directed into either said first lowerchamber or said second lower chamber as a matter of chance, said objectbeing engageable with said second leg to release said first leg fromengagement with said depending skirt when said object enters said onechamber to cause said platform to be ejected upwardly in said firsttower;

a game piece positionable on said platform for ejection from said firsttower when said platform is released; and

catching means for catching said game piece as it is ejected from saidtower.

12. A toy game device as defined in claim 11 wherein said partition isswingably mounted in said second tower.

13. A toy game device as defined in claim 11 wherein said game piececomprises a simulated butterfly having scoring indicia provided thereon.

14. A toy game device as defined in claim 13 including a holder meansfor holding a plurality of said butterflies in such a manner that saidscoring indicia are not visible to the users of said game device.

15. A toy game device, comprising: tower means for hiding a game piecefrom the view of users of the game device; catapult means mounted insaid tower means for ejecting said game piece therefrom when saidcatapult means is released; and chance triggering means connected to thecatapult means for releasing it, said chance means being manuallyoperable and having the characteristic that manual operation will orwill not by chance actuate the ejecting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,111,631 3/1938 Jones et al.124-26 2,636,738 4/1953 Abagoff 124-16 2,664,077 12/1953 Moore 124-163,190,656 6/1965 Weisbecker 273-138 3,224,141 12/1965 Borak 124-26FOREIGN PATENTS 24,259 1901 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner. M. R.PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A TOY GAME DEVICE, COMPRISING: CATAPULT MEANS FORHIDING A GAME PIECE FROM VIEW AND EJECTING THE GAME PIECE INTO THE AIRWHEN SAID CATAPULT DEVICE IS RELEASED; A GAME PIECE MOUNTED ON SAIDCATAPULT DEVICE FOR EJECTION THEREBY; CATCHING MEANS FOR CATCHING A GAMEPIECE EJECTED BY SAID CATAPULT MEANS; TRIGGER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAIDCATAPULT DEVICE FOR RELEASING IT; AND CHANCE MEANS FOR RELEASING SAIDTRIGGER.